Rotherham MP expenses scandal

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The former Labour minister Denis MacShane has apologised for letting down the people of his Rotherham constituency after making false expenses claims. Mr MacShane, who resigned a week ago, said sorry in an open letter published in a newspaper

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Police have met prosecutors to consider reopening the criminal investigation into Denis MacShane's expenses. A joint panel has been reconvened to look at whether a damning Commons report into the former minister contains usable new evidence.

Scotland Yard dropped the case against Mr MacShane in July after receiving advice from the CPS on an initial evidence file. But last week's report by the Standards and Privileges Committee, which concluded MacShane deliberately filed 19 misleading receipts - has sparked calls for a renewed probe.

Mr MacShane, who quit his Rotherham seat rather than face a 12-month suspension from the House, wrote a series of frank letters to the standards commissioner detailing his actions.

But the Commons authorities insist they are protected by parliamentary privilege and would not be admissible in court.

A by-election to replaced disgraced MP Denis MacShane will be held on November 29. Labour formally started the process by moving the writ in the Commons to trigger the contest in the former Europe minister's Rotherham seat.

Former minister Mr MacShane, who resigned after a damning report into his use of parliamentary expenses to fund European trips and computers was published last week, had a 10,642-vote majority.

The Standards and Privileges Committee, which recommended that Mr MacShane should be suspended for 12 months, said it was impossible to say how much Mr MacShane claimed "outside the rules", but it "may have been in the order of £7,500.

Wentworth and Dearne MP John Healey will help residents in Rotherham after Denis MacShane stepped down.

Mr MacShane resigned last week after a report found he had fiddled his expenses.

A by-election will take place to elect a new representative for the town.

John Healey is going to take over any casework and will provide advice surgeries, including one on 10 November at 9.30am at Rotherham town hall.

I’m working with Denis’s staff to make sure there is still a service and support for constituents who need help or information during the gap before a by-election, when people in the central Rotherham constituency will have the chance to elect their new MP.